#  53 - December 1969 

[The New Zealand Naturist] Editor: Joan Treanor (Pages: 44 - 30c)

Contents:-

Editorial - Frank Sviatko
Rally Notes - She'll be a Beaut, Mate!
Offensive or Defensive
Questions from the "Outside" and Answers from the "Inside"
The Artist and the Nude by J. H. Worth
NZSA Notes - Changes in the NZSA, INF World Congress 1970, 18th National Rally, Holiday Visiting, Perc Cousins Trust Fund
"Give it a Title" Competition
Nudist Youth Section with Joan Treanor
Talking to Women with Joan Treanor
Antidote for Stress by Perc Cousins
History: Nelson Sun Club Inc.
Introducing New Members
News from the Clubs (8)
Sylvania - a poem by John Hedley-Brown
Talking About Books
Health in the Sun
News From All Over the World - General, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Facts and Figures, France, European Year of Defence of Nature, Australia
Nudity and Pornography
Readers Have Their Say
Schools for Scandal
Directory: (15)

Noted

---

 Joan Treanor,
 Editor in Chief

---

	Registered at the GPO Wellington, as a magazine
	NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION INC. P.O. BOX 6359, WELLINGTON, N.Z. PUBLISHED QUARTERLY MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER
	ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INVITED

A    VALUABLE    CONTRIBUTION    TOWARDS    A    BETTER    WORLD

 

THE N.Z. NATURIST
Editor in Chief		Joan Treanor
Business Manager		Doug. Cousins
Copy Preparation		Editorial Committee
Advertising Representative		Barry Hill
Editorial Office		P.O. Box 2925, Auckland

 

Cover picture by Doug. Cousins

NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION INC.

Acting President		Ivan Mowlem, Wanganui
Vice-Presidents		Jock Shoolbread, Auckland Jack Knowles, Auckland Norman Bell, Napier
Secretary - Treasurer		Doug. Cousins, Wellington
Public Relations Officer		Gavin Robieson, Wellington
Youth Organiser		Joan Treanor, Christchurch
Women's Representative		Joan Treanor, Christchurch
Overseas Correspondent		David Jenkinson, Wellington
Delegates representing all clubs

 

Enquiries regarding naturist clubs or any matters concerning naturism in New Zealand
or overseas should be made to the association at its office

NEW ZEALAND SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION Inc.

P.O. Box 6359, Wellington, New Zealand

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP OF CLUBS SHOULD BE MADE DIRECT TO THE CLUBS

 

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The ostrich is an unusual bird, hiding its head in the sand when danger approaches.

The nudist is an unusual bird, exposing his body in a sun club when the weekend approaches.

Both statements are invalid, but are part of our accepted ways of thinking. The aim of the NZ Naturist is to present nudism as it is to everyone, both nudists and non-nudists.

It is realized that many new members come to the sun club after reading the magazine, but one must ask, does the magazine interest them in nudism, or is it that they are already interested and have found the address from the magazine? It is not enough for any magazine representing any society or organization to merely mirror praise. It must also present valid criticism of the group it represents, and ask questions as to the aims of that group.

It is not enough to become au unthinking suntanned body. Controversy is part and parcel of the maturing process of any individual or group, therefore one has to accept that there is controversy within the nudist organization, and controversy regarding it, outside the organization. Therefore the NZ Naturist is charged with the responsibility of bringing controversy forward for your information and dialogue.

Under previous editors the NZ Naturist has earned a high reputation for its standards, and it is hoped that this reputation will continue and grow in the future. But it is surely time that nudists realized that there are just as many viewpoints on nudism as there are nudists, and that all these viewpoints must be considered if they are in any way likely to be valid. Only through such consideration can nudism become an adult organization instead of a semi-secret society existing on the outskirts of our community.

You as a nudist may feel that nudism is a return to nature, or a healthful exercise. You may feel that exercise is part and parcel of the organization, or that sunbathing is its end result, and also its aim. As a non-nudist reader, you may feel that nudism approaches a religion for some, may be a crank hobby, and may even be unhealthy. Only by putting forward your views in dialogue can they be discussed, and only in dialogue can they have any purpose. The obvious platform for your views on nudism is the NZ Naturist.

The fact that you are not a public figure, either in the NZSA, or if you are a non-nudist, in your community, is immaterial. Public figures, by virtue of the position they have attained are a race apart. The average person minds his own business, and does not like to be the one to 'rock the boat'. The public figure on the other hand does not mind how much rocking goes on, as long as the boat sails in the direction he feels it should.

When your president, or secretary says that he has never suffered an adverse reaction to others knowing that he is a nudist, the cause may be his very strong personality not allowing others to express their disapproval. You may have come across such disapproval. Many committee men may appear more eloquent, more dynamic than you at meetings, and the NZ Naturist is your forum to bring your ideas forward without being interrupted by others who disagree.

The point to remember is that in a country like New Zealand with two and a half million inhabitants more or less, the committee which governs numbers less than a hundred. In other words, a committee comprised of public figures in any walk of life must of necessity represent, but need not be representative. You, the ordinary member, the ordinary citizen, are representative.

Already a fairly wide cross section of non-nudists have expressed their interest in presenting their views on nudism through the pages of your magazine, the NZ Naturist. Their views, while we may not agree with them, must be considered in all seriousness, because we may find that many of them are more valid than we originally thought.

The invitation is extended to you, as a reader, to join in this dialogue, for your magazine is not the property of the editors, but the property of you, the reader.

To seek a greater awareness, a greater communication, and a greater understanding: these are the aims of the NZ Naturist, for surely these are also your aims.

The editors hope to present in the NZ Naturist a report on, of and by the nudist organization in each issue.

You are the reporters, you are the owners, and most important of all, you are the readers. The editors must then be your servants. • - FRANK S. SVIATKO

POOR CHAP, USED TO POSE FOR THE OLD NATURIST MAGAZINE

 

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RALLY NOTES

SHE'LL BE A BEAUT, MATE!

 

The forthcoming NZSA 18th national rally to be held on the grounds of Auckland's largest club ORANUl sure will be a time you'll not forget in many a long day, that's if you're coming of course, and who'd want to miss out on the grand crazy dress New Year's Eve party in the huge marquee behind the clubhouse (holds 400), together with all the other attractions and entertainments being arranged for everyone to enjoy during their stay at Oranui. Some of the many features of this rally will be:

 

An outdoor barbecue to be held on the evening after the rally opens.

 

YOUTH will find their hostess in Auckland has plans for great get-togethers and if any teenagers attending the rally have any suggestions or ideas to make their holiday spark along, kindly drop a note to Youth Rally Hostess Sue, P.O. Box 2702, Auckland.

 

FILMS. A selection of 16mm sound track full length movies are planned for those of you who would be interested.

 

CONCERT. As is usual at every rally, we plan to hold a concert on the final evening of the rally and proceeds will go to the Perc. Cousins Trust Fund. I would ask all clubs to get their talent scouts into gear now and arrange their items, advise the concert organizer when you arrive to register what you plan to do as your bit makes to help this a great show.

 

CHILDREN. All sorts of plans are under way to give the younger folk the time of their lives, including a massive treasure hunt for the smaller ones.

 

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY as mentioned above will be a beaut. Come in your craziest fancy dress, there may be a little something for the most original couple chosen for their costume. This doesn't have to be a married couple, but the best and most amusing clobber for a couple.

 

SPORTS. Arrangements for the various sporting fixtures and times of play will be announced after the official opening by the president at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 1st January, 1970. Volleyball, swimming, Teniquoit, miniten, table tennis, are the major sporting interests.

 

EXECUTIVE MEETING. The annual general meeting of the executive of the NZSA will be held on Wednesday, 31st December, 1969, at 10 a.m. Will all club delegates attending this meeting attend promptly. Ivan will be chairman of this meeting. Any members who may be interested to listen to the proceedings are invited to attend.

 

DAILY NEWS & VIEWS. It is hoped to arrange a daily information sheet free to all resident campers and visitors attending the rally.

 

WOMEN'S CORNER. The ladies have planned to hold a meeting one afternoon to discuss various topics and if you have a topic or question you would like put to the meeting, post the question to Women's Discussion Panel, P.O. Box 2702, Auckland.

 

CANTEEN. The Oranui Committee will have everything you'll require on hand so there will be little need (if any) to have to bother going off the grounds for supplies. Fresh eggs, fruit, vegetables, milk, bread, groceries, frozen foods, cakes, ice creams. In fact everything will be delivered daily. •

 

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OFFENSIVE or DEFENSIVE

A prime fault in naturist propaganda is that it has been too much on the defensive. It has concentrated excessively on trying to show that naturists are not bad people when you get to know them, which usually has the effect of making them look something very much worse: trivial. What it should be doing is attacking vigorously the insincere moral values of our civilization.

Naturism is not a retreat to a more primitive way of life. On the contrary, it demands the raising of standards and the development of an outlook more advanced than most people are yet able to achieve, it involves protest against the prevailing attitude in which the human body is regarded with simultaneous attraction and repulsion. This emotional impasse probably had its origins in a form of puritanical spiritual pride which claimed contempt for the flesh.

The movement is unique in that it can speak from the experience of people of both sexes who spend some of their time unclothed together in terms of mutual respect, observing the highest moral standards. This proves that there is a middle way between the two extremes that ordinary people can take without going against their principles.

It is claimed that the practice of naturism is of benefit to the physical health. This seems reasonable, and there is a good deal of evidence to support it; but this is of small importance when compared with its enormous value in mental health. When so much is being done in this field already, one wonders if the naturist movement is fully aware of the great contribution it could make. Not perhaps, in films, but in the written and the spoken word. This is the way to create the atmosphere in which naturism can flourish. •

- TIMON

 

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1. (a)		Do you think the public at large regard nakedness as funny?  "Funny" in the sense of "peculiar". Most people seem to see nothing wrong in nudism, but state reasons for it not being something to which they personally could subscribe. Those who harp on the "oddballs" of nudism are usually the type who snigger over Playboy pictures without reading the editorial content.
2. (a)		Do you think that people are embarrassed by the thought of group nakedness? Those who do vehemently oppose nudism in general are surely not embarrassed by group nudity, but have not come to terms with the fact that they have a body. However, some supporters are frightened of the thought of exposing themselves to others without protection; they are afraid of a reaction to the other sex.
3. (a)		What sort of people are nudists? Nudists are people, not a sort of people.
4. (a)		Why is it necessary to have social nudity? It is not necessary but desirable. Social nudism has existed since time immemorial. It is only in recent times that clothes have been used more and more as an adornment rather than a protection. Even today many primitive tribes practise social nudism to their benefit in health, mental and physical. More and more is civilized man finding the benefits to his health of complete nudity in clubs and communities.
5. (a)		So little is known about nudity and nudist clubs. Are they not a sort of secret society? There is no club in New Zealand that keeps its existence a secret. We would like greater publicity of nudism but due to conservative attitudes of the mass media, it is difficult to make any headway.
6. (a)		How does one go about joining a club? All clubs are in this magazines directory. Any interested persons should write to the secretary of the club nearest their home, giving their names, addresses, etc., and they will receive a letter with all information from the secretary.
7.   (a)		It is difficult for an outsider to believe that there is no sexual implication in social nudity, surely the same sort of natural rules apply whether one is wearing clothes or not, but more so when bodies are nude? Don't men reveal their sexuality on such occasions? It is difficult for the uninformed to believe. But it is only by participating in social nudity that one can see for themselves that there is no sexual implication.
8. (a)		How are nudist clubs policed? Most clubs are incorporated societies and own their own grounds and buildings, just like any tennis or bowling clubs. All are run by an elected committee and find that seldom do they have to 'police' members
9. (a)		What is to stop the wrong sort of person joining for the wrong motives? Nothing. It is practically impossible, but if anyone does join for the wrong motives, it is not long before the healthy, happy atmosphere bores them and they just fade away.
10.   (a)		Do not people become vulnerable to ridicule or scandal once it is generally known that they are nudists? No. •

 

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THE ARTIST & THE NUDE

by J. H. WORTH

Almost any book on drawing and painting, at least of the old school, will insist on instruction in drawing from "The Life" in other words, the nude figure.

In these days of abstract art, they don't seem to bother whether a painter can paint, or even draw, from the human figure.

As an amateur painter and sketcher, I am of the Victorian, or pre-Victorian school in this respect. I like nude figures, and I try to teach my kids that there is nothing wrong with them. Also the nude figure is harder to draw than anything except portraits. You can put an extra branch on a tree if you wish, but you can't put an extra limb on a human being to make it look more balanced.

But why pick on the female figure? For the simple reason that there are very few male figures who look attractive enough to make a good picture. (Some of the surfies might.)

Try suggesting a 'life class' at the local art class, and there will be loud cries of "Sexo", "Pervert", or some sneering innuendoes. What is the artist to do, then, if he has a true interest in the undraped female form? To my mind, there is only one thing he can do. If you can't find 'em, join 'em.

I have read from time to time of the secret nudist, by which I suppose they mean a family who does not broadcast nudism amongst all the neighbours. And I can't say that I blame them. But what of the 'top secret' nudist? The joker who hasn't yet got round to breaking the good news to his wife and kids.

Before you break into cries of shame, coward, etc., it might be worthwhile studying the problem. I went to my first nudist session with a great amount of trepidation. Should I have dosed myself on bromide for a week beforehand? I toyed with the idea, but daren't ask any chemist. If an ordinary joker's wife stands before him in the bedroom completely naked (speaking of non-nudists) his natural inclination is to stand up and say grace: "For what we are about to receive ... etc." So I pondered how I would react for the first time when surrounded by females of all ages and sizes jogging and jiggling around completely naked. This, to my mind, is what prevents many males from joining a sun club. They think they are going to show themselves up.

They need not worry. The atmosphere in a sun club is entirely different from that in a strip tease show. In a strip show the artist pirouettes around the stage, showing a little bit more each time she doffs an item, to the delight of the audience. As each item floats to the floor, the audience gets more and more excited, until for the finale there is nothing left but a G-string and an excited crowd. Titillation, pure and simple. The audience pays for it, and she collects (some) of it. No wonder some of the men start squirming in their seats, just about on the boil, as you might say.

Now we'll swap the scene to the typical sun club.

The visitors come in, dressed in summer clothes, and are introduced to the local members, old, young, children, males and females. Nobody knows who are the first timers. After the first few minutes nearly everybody forgets whose name is which. Who came in the flash 'Jag', who came in the old 'bomb'? Who cares? Who was wearing the natty suit as though he'd just come from a wedding or church? Who had the faded jeans or the rather natty shorts? Who cares?

As though by the wave of a magic wand the clothes all come off like autumn leaves. Big figures, tubby figures, tiny figures, slim figures; all as naked as the proverbial sausage. Who's the old joker adjusting the water pump, who's the naked blonde pumping the primus? Who cares? Who stares? Nobody stares; but you would have to be blind not to appreciate the scenery.

So last week I was the ordinary joker, feeling a bit avant garde for even wanting to visit one of these clubs. This week I'm still an ordinary joker, but as naked as the day I was born (and I didn't need the bromide or the old 'towel-in-front-of' just in case I didn't behave). Then who are the hypocrites? The strip show watchers, or the ordinary family nudists?

I should have joined years ago. Ah well, it's never too late to appreciate the scenery.

"THERE ARE VERY FEW MALE FIGURES WHO LOOK ATTRACTIVE
ENOUGH TO MAKE A GOOD PICTURE"

 

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Notes

from the

New Zealand

Sunbathing Association Inc.

 

CHANGES IN THE NZSA

As a result of the passing of our late president, the NZSA executive met at Wanganui last August. The following changes were agreed to: Ivan Mowlem was elected acting president until the next executive meeting prior to the rally in December. We would like to extend our thanks to Ivan for accepting this position.

The editorship of this magazine has been accepted by a committee consisting of members of the three Auckland clubs, plus Waikato and Rotorua. We extend our sincere thanks to the many people, members and otherwise, who have over the years sent in news, stories, photographs and letters for the magazine and we trust that they will continue to let us have anything they can provide to help the magazine and the movement generally. Whilst we have made enormous advances in the last 20 years, there is still a lot of prejudice and misunderstanding to contend with. This magazine is possibly our best medium of helping to put doubters on the right track. Editorial office address is P.O. Box 2925, Auckland.

INF WORLD CONGRESS 1970

This congress will be held at the grounds of the North Kent Sun club from 8-16 August. We would be very pleased to hear of any club members who are expecting to be in England at that time, and particularly from some member who would be willing to act as the NZSA delegate to the official congress business sessions. Please contact the secretary by mail or at the rally. We may mention here that Gordon and Dianne made an excellent job of advertising New Zealand at the last congress. See the photo of the New Zealand corner in this issue.

18th NATIONAL RALLY

We expect to see many new faces at this rally to be held at Oranui, the grounds of the Auckland Outdoor Health Club Inc., from 1st to 4th January, 1970. The NZSA officers will be pleased to discuss any matters of interest, problems and so on with club officers and individual members. NZSA officers and delegates are reminded that the executive meeting commences at 10 a.m. on 31st December.

It is proposed that an NZSA shop will be set up in the back of the secretary's station wagon, where members can view and purchase the various items available only from the NZSA. Most of these are mentioned in the accompanying notice. Any member of Doug's party will be happy to see lunch hour browsers and others along at any time they are at their tents.

HOLIDAY VISITING

We would remind members to ensure that they write well in advance to any clubs they plan to visit during the holidays. Adequate details for the host club are essential, including times of arrival and departure, even approximate. Members who are not known in the clubs they wish to visit MUST forward their letters through their own secretaries, as this saves the host secretary writing back to confirm membership. Whilst some may feel that all this is unnecessary, experience has proved to many clubs that it is better to be over-cautious than the opposite. Always carry your NZSA passport to produce on arrival at another club. These passports are available free of charge from your own secretary.

And finally, please remember the courtesy of sending a stamped self-addressed envelope. This applies too, for enquiries sent to this office.

PERC. COUSINS TRUST FUND

It is pleasing to see the excellent response from clubs and our readers in contributing to the fund and Phyl. and Doug. especially thank those who donated to the fund in lieu of sending floral tributes for Perc's funeral. Any clubs and others still wishing to make a donation under this heading are invited to do so. We are grateful for the following donations: Last balance $834.10; Donations in lieu of floral tributes, clubs $35, members $22, non-members $6; Club levies $21.95; WTG Masterton $1; WN Aust. $1; Investment interest $5.34; Total $926.39. •

 

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"GIVE IT A TITLE" COMPETITION

This competition is open to one and all. Much as we would like to see the youth enter, we also welcome replies from the other generations too. What we want to know is what the children are saying in Paul's photo. A prize of $1 will be forwarded to the most original answer, so get your thinking caps on. Send your entries to Competition, P.O. Box 2925, Auckland.

 

Instructions in barracks: Beds are to be made up as laid down in standing orders.

- David Frost

 

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WITH JOAN TREANOR

Ever heard of Tierra del Fuego? No? Well, I can tell you that it isn't a new kind of ice cream on a stick. It's not a new TV programme either.

It is the name given to the southernmost tip of the South American continent, where not so long ago, a naturist on a British ship "HMS Darwin", visited a tribe of natives called the Fuegians. These were the Ona Indians who, although the summer temperatures in these savage lands were a bleak 38° Fahrenheit (about 60° Centigrade) lived completely naked. With a disregard for the extremely cold conditions in this area, they slept naked at night on the wet, near-frozen land. In this harsh land, mothers, after giving birth, would dip their babies into the icy sea to toughen them. Yet though the Fuegian Indians seemed to thrive in the face of natural hazards, they were no match for the white man: his diseases and ways have destroyed nearly all of the Indians.

We're lucky to have our New Zealand sunshine. I guess none of us was dipped in the cold sea to toughen us. Thank goodness for that. But, you know the story above does tell us something. Life, the natural way, has its attractions. How much more pleasant to swim naked and carefree than to suffer the uncomfortable irritation of a tight costume, no matter how small it may be. We don't shower or bathe dressed!

I've heard that some of the youngsters find life pretty boring at the club. No transistor radios, no other kids, things pretty dull.

DULL: Not brisk or active, not bright or spirited, wearisome, boring. That is what the dictionary says.

Well now, we can't really regard a game of volleyball as not brisk, active, bright or spirited. Nor badminton, miniten, swimming or the other games played at our clubs. Surely our sports programmes at our rallies are far from dull.

But you must join in. Watching others can fill all the qualifications of dullness. This season join in club activities, get into the Youth group, and enjoy YOUR club.

It was a pleasure to discover the following two letters in my mailbox recently. At least I feel that someone must read the pages I write especially for them, and I do hope that others will follow Lance's and Jane's idea of writing.

Dear Aunty Joan,

On Thursday, we just got home because the river was in flood. On Friday we could not get to school and we could not get the groceries. Mum made some bread, so I thought I should make some butter 'because we had some cream. And made some cheese with some milk. So I had some homemade bread, butter and cheese.

The other day my horse jumped the fence and we cannot find him.

From, LANCE

Dear Aunty Joan,

I am a new club member. I am nine years old, my brother is ten, and my sister is seven tomorrow. To get to our house we have to cross a river. On Thursday we just managed to get across as the river was in flood. On Friday we could not get to school. We have a Siamese eat. Her name is Pitty Sing. She is very playful. And a fox terrier her name is Sally. She does not like strangers. She is used for catching opossums.

Some of the Gisborne sun club use our shearer's quarters and part of our farm as a place for sunny weekends. They have not got any grounds yet. To get across the river we cross on a tractor. Are there any children in the sun clubs who have to do that? The bus driver is my teacher, he used to be the NZ champion tennis player. So when I get a chance he might be able to teach me how to play tennis. We are looking forward to going to the rally, because it is the first one we have been to. We have hired a caravan.

Love, JANE

 

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with Joan Treanor

When I read a tip in one of the weeklies recently I permitted myself a good laugh: the tip suggested that the family write on a piece of paper the numbered contents of suitcases, e.g., 3 shirts, 4 hankies, camera, etc. Then none of the family's gear can go astray.

My suitcases for an outing at the club usually consist of a few towels.

Recently my husband took the three children to Paihia for a week. My week's rest was heaven sent until I clapped eyes on the washing brought back. A few hours and one aching back later, I collapsed wearily into a chair thinking seriously of handing in my notice. Now why didn't they go off to the club? Clothes neatly folded in the drawer while the kids enjoyed the sun.

The sun, fickle thing that it was this winter, peering wetly through the very occasional gap in the clouds, is at last beaming benevolently; and what a blessing. Now few clothes hang on the line during weekends. They're hardly needed.

Don't be a housebound housewife. Naturism or nudism, call it what you will, offers the ideal outdoor relaxation and exhilarating difference that may change your whole outlook on life. Here is a chance for your whole family.

You know, the Government is concerned with the country's drug bill. Those tons of aspirins, tranquillisers and the other expensive medicaments that we are supposed to need. Perhaps the Dept of Health could subsidise our sun clubs, where we can supply the same antidote to worry as some of these drugs. I think we should write to Wellington tonight. It really is absurd that so many are being denied so much.

I realize that I have over the past years taken the club and all amenities there for granted. I have always been able to pop down there at a moment's notice as I was only five minutes away. Now, however, I realize just how fortunate I was. Here, in Auckland, I am nearly an hour's trip away, have to pack lunch, take towels, etc. These are things that, because of our well-equipped cabin, I never had to think about. I know that when I return to Christchurch, I shall appreciate what I have, and never have cause again to moan if we strike one day without sunshine. The children, too, I have noticed have missed being away, and none of us seem so relaxed and contented as we were. Now that the summer months are here, I hope that we will be able to get out more often. I know that I certainly am able to enjoy myself better relaxed at the grounds than sitting here in the house knowing that there is plenty of work to do at the club.

The swim nights and the social evenings that some of the clubs have during the winter months are a great idea, and certainly help to hold the club together. Otherwise it would be months before some of the people saw each other. Again, at a sauna night or swim night, one can be relaxed, and whilst enjoying themselves, still have the opportunity to sit and talk. I have noticed that those who come along and don't participate in the actual evening, never look bored. They are too busily talking or just watching the others enjoying themselves. This tends to put a happy feeling amongst the whole crowd.

I have heard recently that some of the club members complain that they are expected to do too much work at their grounds. Well, this is incorrect. Nobody is expected to do anything. After all, you can come and just enjoy the sunshine and watch others working and nothing should be said. But if you want some of those improvements, amenities, games courts, etc., then it is up to you to do a little perhaps. We can't always leave it to the same old ones. The other week when I was out at the grounds, activity was going on all around me, but I just lay in the sunshine, admittedly trying to ignore all the noises indicating work.

That night I had an important badminton match on, so felt I should just relax in readiness for it. However, in the end, feeling rather guilty, I downed the book and instead helped to erect the shower. I will presumably use it frequently, and will feel better for it, knowing that I have, in a small way, helped build it. (Of course, it it falls down, then I will always say that Ron did it alone).

No one came to me and said, "Joan, why aren't you working?" I feel a closer bond to the other members if we all get up and work, and then of course, once the jobs are completed for the day, we can all have a rest, lie in the sunshine, or play sport.

Yesterday, I visited a member's house. They have the most beautiful view, have complete privacy from everyone, and yet they are active members of their club. I used to think that if I was fortunate to have a place like that I wouldn't ask for more, but now I know that sunbathing and relaxing is not enough. I like the company, to be able to play games, to talk to anyone that cares to listen, and in fact to mix with others that have the same interests as myself. In Christchurch, I used to enjoy the odd days of solitude, but in the weekend with company and plenty of activities, I really enjoyed myself and became a much different person. I suppose, to be rather honest, that like the members I visited yesterday, I want everything: to have a house where I can run around naked all the time if I want to, to have privacy for sunbathing, but also to have the companionship of the gang at the club. I really have a feeling it is time that the heading of this article was changed. I receive far more mail from males than I do females. And I always thought that men didn't like reading women's articles, or especially writing letters. How wrong I have been proved. The latest overseas one was from a chap in South America. Where he lives they aren't allowed to have a nudist club, so they practise quietly, but with always the fear that they will be discovered and reported to the police, where they could get into serious trouble. They, then like to read about other countries and their nudist activities. And to think here in New Zealand, we can join a club and once accepted, take an active part in naturism. It is all so easy, and how much we take it for granted. I think it would be more beneficial to myself to write a "Talking to Men", then perhaps some of the women would write in.

After finishing writing this article and submitting it for editing, I had the pleasant surprise of finding a letter from a woman in my mail box, so am only too pleased to enclose what Jan of ASC wrote, and hope it will be an incentive for other ladies to write of their experiences as well. "We had never even thought of naturist clubs until some kind person offered it as a solution to our regular Sunday problem of sand in our sandwiches, mosquito bites, uncontrolled kids walking over me as I was trying to catch 40 winks in the sun. But, worst of all was the quiet sniggers and giggles from the surfies and girlfriends as I (none too slim I might add) walked along the sand dunes to the shop, in my very modest two-piece, all the while thinking to myself: hold in the stomach, shoulders back, pretend that you're 36-26-36.

"First mention of a naturist club brought first thoughts of Oh, bad enough on the beach, but to let other poor souls besides my husband see it completely uncontrolled ... too, too much. Then there was the quiet infiltration of NZ Naturist mags on to my dresser, under my pillow, in the kitchen drawer, until finally I gave in and had a long look at these. My first impression was - shaved! You've got to be joking (to which I might add that this should happen no longer owing to our "new look" mag). Then I realized that there were other women in the world who had similar shaped figures to mine and were members of sun clubs.

"My first association with another member was on a swim night to which I had been coaxed along. I'm standing in the ladies changing room, ready, shivering, a bit shy or scared maybe, when suddenly from nowhere a deep voice rises, "Good evening, the water's terrific," and then it vanished. Another male. What no sniggers or giggles? Perhaps I'm not that bad after all.

"What a surprise. One hour later I realized that my husband and I had been in and out of the water constantly chasing the ball along with others with never a thought about other peoples' reaction to us and then to find that I'm standing in a mixed group of people drinking coffee and talking about perfectly sensible subjects.

"The following Sunday, after deciding to go to the club grounds for the day, I realized that it was I who was hustling my husband along so as to be there early and make the most of the beautiful day.

"After two years the only thing that I would change, if I went through it again, would be to join at least five years earlier. Our winter days at the grounds are spent doing improvements, or should I say we women watch as the men work harder there than they sometimes do at home. This leaves our summer days for relaxing and enjoying the odd games of volleyball, teniquoit, or table tennis, and now that we have our own pool, summer days are just not long enough.

"I am still not 36-26-36, in fact, there may even be a few extra pounds around, but I am happier here than I would ever have been on a beach. Now I am the one that is trying to coax my friends into joining, and those of them who have joined have found the same friendship and relaxation that I have." •

 

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Ever thought of nudism to help you really relax and forget your worries and troubles? Of course not. You wouldn't be so silly, would you? Nudism. Ha! What a laugh; me a nudist?

Many of you right now are headed for disaster and real trouble, because you live at too fast a pace, worry too much or everything seems to be going wrong. Something has to be done about it and done pretty soon, because nobody can withstand continual stress without a let-up now and then to build up reserves. I know some of you join clubs and make some effort for release, but do you really succeed? It is doubtful, for many a business transaction has,, been pulled off on the golf course, or an introduction to someone special is aimed to improve the present situation, but is merely aimed at "keeping up with the Joneses", which in plain language is only living artificially. But frankly, do you really relax, so that business and all the other worries are completely left behind?

It may seem odd when we claim that by taking your clothes off in lovely and natural surroundings and in the company of people who use only christian names. You take off your cares with your clothes and really relax. Probably the psychologist would come up with some profound argument that you are getting back to babyhood days by throwing cares to the wind, but we can be much more down-to-earth and practical than that. You must admit that the wearing of clothes forces upon us a degree on insincerity: a veneer that is not always our true self. Would an army officer command the same awe without his uniform? Or Mrs Willoughby-Montgomery be the same without her line clothes and diamonds?

When you shed your clothes you are you, the real, uncomplicated and natural you, and this levelling effect is one of the important steps towards release. When you chat with fellow members, play games, swim, or just laze in the sunshine, safe from prying eyes of the uninitiated, then you have begun to live, to be at one with nature and to really find yourself. You may start your worrying again when you have to dress to go home, but I guarantee you will feel better and instead of contemplating the week's worries ahead, you will rather be looking forward to next weekend, when you can once again "get away from it all".

This is no idle fancy or dream, it is solid, cold fact, for I have experienced it myself over the last 40 odd years and I have seen remarkable changes take place in others. Nudism may be unconventional, but it is one of the most logical and sensible ideas available today. It might pay you to write for a brochure or subscribe to this magazine. You will have to admit that all these people you see in the pictures or who write our articles, can't be wrong. Think it over ... seriously. •

(Editor's note: On going through the papers handed to me, I found this last work of Perc. Cousins and felt it would be appropriate to include it in this issue in remembrance of a man who did so much for the movement.)

 

 

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Formed on the 16th of December, 1968, the club obtained provisional affiliation to the NZSA on the 1st January, 1969. The club became incorporated on the 29th of April, 1969 and full affiliation to the NZSA was granted at a special executive meeting on the 16th of August, 1969.

It seems a long time since our secretary visited the editor of the local paper and told him: "Well, here we are. You can make us or break us," and asked, "What are you going to do?"

We were well received and have not stopped growing.

Nelson is well-known for its 159 different churches, sects, creeds or call them what you will. One more society of odd-balls makes little difference.

This train of thought is, of course, fatal, and leads to extinction. We have no divine message, do not promise eternal salvation, do not play on the emotions, do not practise blackmail, do not promise hubby a day away from the missus or mum a day away from the kids, we do not even hit the pocket to any great extent.

Where then is the attraction, what made us think that we could succeed in a relatively small community where everyone knows everyone else's business and likes it that way. What did make us succeed?

First of all there is the climate. Nelson is well known for its sunshine and mildness.

Then there are the people. True everyone is interested in everyone else's business, but this is largely a sympathetic interest. People in Nelson feel strongly about certain things, but, they are willing to discuss matters with an open mind and if they can't agree, each goes his own way.

Such is Nelson. Into this environment we threw a sun club.

Nude midnight swims have been fashionable at Tahunanui for years. All-over tans have been sported in dressing sheds for years. Boats have taken their owners to secluded beaches for years. In fact, nudism came to Nelson years ago. Only, it did not come as an "ism". It came as a spontaneous wish to enjoy the sun and the sea, it came as a spontaneous outburst of joie de vivre and it was possible.

However, Nelson has changed a little. It became popular and the very freedom it offered bred restrictions. At the height of summer, the beaches are crowded, fresh sea air gives way to sun tan lotion, all-over tans disappear and make way for bikinis in the dressing sheds and on the beach. Clothes have to be sat on, wallets left at home, cars locked, kids kept an eye on and altogether life becomes 'orribly complicated.

Those who do not make their living from the teeming thousands quietly slip away and return when the commotion is over.

Into this environment we introduced a sun club. We did not introduce an "ism", we do not want an "ism". We want a place where we can carry on as before, where we can enjoy ourselves without having to worry about our wallets, our kids or whether we are showing too much or too little. We like an all-over sun tan and we like the freedom to do what we like with our clothes. We like the sun and the sea and most of all, we like to be free.

This then is the Nelson Sun Club. A club like any other Nelson club, different only in that it aims to provide maximum enjoyment of the Nelson sunshine with the minimum of bother.

We advertised for land and were offered 300 acres. We were also offered an island and a Shangri-la straight from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Since we could not afford the last two, we accepted the first. We are not very good at volleyball or badminton yet, but we are learning fast. We like swimming so we are building a swimming pool. We like good company, so we advertise for new members. We are a commonsense lot, and we like it that way.

Best of all, we are young, this is almost as new to us as it is to you. We accepted at an early stage that the club was what we made it. We are still shaping and reshaping it and the final result will, we hope, combine the best of the old world and the new. •

 

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I'LL BET YOU'RE ONE OF THE NEW MEMBERS

 

INTRODUCING NEW MEMBERS

by GSL

Obtaining new club members always seems to be something of a problem. Men usually join more readily than women, and in order to maintain a balance in numbers, prospective women members probably demand more attention. It is important that club members do not become too few, as it is only with a large membership that a club is a really worthwhile thing, and can realize its full potential. We must be realistic and note that people, (and their money), provide the material facilities of any naturist area, and maintain it with their support. In large measure, I feel our lady friends tend to limit expansion of an individual club, and the whole naturist movement. But, also, given their full support, it will succeed.

In facing anything unknown, we all have our little fears. When these are removed, or at least eased, a change is less difficult, and can even become easy and desirable. In converting a woman to naturism, we must remember the way in which she has probably been conditioned since infancy. She tends in a pathetically large number of cases to regard nudity (especially in public) as sinful, distasteful, degraded, and even dirty.

The only way to overcome this repulsion is to let her see for herself what organized, social naturism is. Naturists must, by their example, show her that it is very unlike what she had imagined. Such persons must speak to nudists, and meet nudists, and realize they really are ordinary, good-living people. Although this is so important, the whole business of introduction can be difficult.

My own wife, as first, was firmly against all thought of association with naturists. Any changes were very slow in coming. It was only on her first real visit to a club ground, in the south of England, that she moved really close to an acceptance of naturism. Only after speaking at length to clothed women members, and an almost harrowing walk around the club grounds on a Sunday afternoon, was the dear girl able to relax over a cup of tea in the presence of scores of naked people.

Many people have had similar experiences. The movement must recruit new members, and supporters, and in this the present members must give encouragement and set a good example. Naturism has much to offer, if only more people were convinced of this.

One young lady went to a European naturist beach from England to see what it was like. After several hours in a bikini, the rest of her holiday was spent in the nude, sunbathing. Her final comment was: "I can only say that Blackpool in a bikini will never be quite the same." •

 

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N E W S F R O M  T H E C L U B S I N  N. Z.

 

WELLINGTON SUN CLUB INC.

The winter is a bleak period at Fiveacres, but through the work of those enthusiasts who braved the elements, a good deal has been achieved. The vast new landscaping begun at the end of last season has been followed up with a beautifying programme in which a large number of nursery trees and shrubs have been planted according to a prepared plan. Unfortunately the early onset of wet weather prevented an autumn sowing of grass and this is now a task for the spring. A camp kitchen has been added to the amenities block and this is now at the closed in stage.

The winter social season has been most successful, featuring gay informal evenings, including an international dish evening at a member's home and a wine and cheese party in the city followed by dancing. Weekly sauna evenings have been held at a city sauna bath during the winter.

NELSON SUN CLUB INC.

After six wet weekends, Nelson had a fine weekend with midsummer temperatures. Members came out of hibernation in droves and to top it all off, the bulldozer turned up to complete excavations. The club now has four games courts, two of which are sown in grass and two in sawdust. The ground originally had a slope of one in fifty and the excavation of level games areas has resulted in two six-foot sunbathing cum spectator slopes. The whole is pleasing to the eye and everything that was hoped for.

The swimming pool is well in hand, it is planned on 60 x 30 feet with sloping sides and a bottom sloping from two feet at the shallow end to four feet at the deep end. The general layout of the grounds is well planned. There is a car park at the lower end of the grounds, this is followed by the pool, then the games areas and the canteen and further on a quarter of a mile of valley floor with a myriad of sunbathing and picnic spots. Altogether, the club is pleated with recent progress.

One of the members donated a flowering cherry, which has been planted at the entrance to the grounds in commemoration of Perc's last official visit to a sun club other than his home club.

AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC.

During the past winter months, members of the Auckland Sun Club Inc. have had a fairly full programme both with work and socially. Winter activities have included end of month swim nights at one of Auckland's heated swimming pools, social evenings held mid monthly at members' homes and working bees every fine Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m. to bring the grounds up to standard for the forthcoming junior rally.

This includes building showers, installing hot water, levelling the volley ball court, and general improvements to the landscaping. All winter activities have had very good attendances and members attending have themselves thoroughly enjoyed the get togethers.

Arrangements are being made for another gold prospecting trip plus a visit to a secluded beach not far from Auckland.

WANGANUI SUN CLUB INC.

A very short time ago, the Wanganui Sun Club members were hosts to delegates at a special meeting of the NZSA executive and our members thank those delegates for their support in appointing our president to act as NZ president until the elections to be held at the next rally at Auckland at the end of this year.

It is also gratifying to know that the publication of the NZ Naturist is to continue under the capable hands of an editorial committee. We wish this committee every success and hope that their methods will increase the popularity of this fine magazine, which we think is our best means of advertising for our clubs.

Our members are counting the days to the rally, when they will be able once more to meet many old friends for their annual get together.

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB INC.

Preparation of the grounds of Auckland Outdoor Health Club Inc. for the forthcoming national rally received a setback in the form of a herd of hungry cattle which marauded over the grounds recently. Wet games courts and newly sown grass were badly trampled and shrubs and trees eaten to the ground or broken down. Arbor Day, with the planting of some 30 new shrubs has helped to hide the damage, but much work still needs to be done to bring the lawns and camping areas to good condition before the summer.

The former caretaker's residence has now been renovated to serve as committee rooms and will be linked by telephone to the clubhouse for the rally. The swimming pool is to be emptied shortly for repainting ready for the new season.

Colour slides of the club's early development have been shown at a successful wine and cheese evening held in spite of very wet weather and a film evening is planned to follow. Swim nights shared with Kowhai Valley, and private bookings of a city sauna bath have helped to keep members interested in these activities in touch throughout the winter, but with an increase in tempo becoming apparent at Oranui, thoughts are turning to volleyball once more.

KOWHAI VALLEY SUN CLUB INC.

We have made great progress in the last few months with the development of our grounds and members are now looking forward to the summer months and a chance to enjoy the benefits of all the hard work they have put into their lovely grounds. A bulldozer was hired to level grounds in preparation for games courts and to widen the drive. Many more plants and trees have been planted and a lot more drains have been laid. Now that spring is here the stream and pool look really beautiful with a backdrop of kowhais in full bloom.

Our regular swimming nights have been a great success, and one was followed by a social evening when we were hosts to members from Tauranga and Waikato clubs.

We are pleased to be able to report a steady increase in membership and a warm welcome is extended to anybody interested in joining. For further details, prospective members should write to the secretary.

TAURANGA SUN CLUB

The Tauranga Sun Club has had grounds for only about fifteen months with a small but steadily increasing membership, and it is most pleasing that nearly all new members have been very willing workers in developing the grounds, the Sunbowl. Every Sunday for the past six months has seen a good number of keen members working hard and several valuable donations in the form of equipment have been made. We have cleared ground on the top of the area to the extent allowed by our lease, planted grass, flowers and shrubs, have water supply (but no power) and about 8 tent sites for our quite numerous visitors.

At present we are developing a semi-natural pool five minutes walk from our headquarters. This pool will be ready for early summer. Forty minutes walk through beautiful native bush and down a bush-fringed stream brings us to the largest natural swimming pool in any New Zealand club, with smooth rock sunbathing area alongside the river pool. We welcome visitors from other clubs who will appreciate our natural, if rather primitive, secluded surroundings.

Last Labour weekend, 1968, we had our first official visitors, members of the Kaurimu and Waikato clubs. Since then, besides odd visitors from other clubs, including Oranui, we have kept close contact with Kowhai, Waikato and Rotorua. During the winter we had three hot springs swim afternoons, being joined on the second one by members from Waikato and Rotorua. We have visited Waikato and Kowhai where we enjoyed a swim and film night and the next day visited their promising new grounds. Kowhai were most hospitable.

This Labour weekend we shall host campers from Kowhai, Sunday visitors from Waikato and Rotorua and a visit from Joan Treanor, Doug. Cousins and others. Tauranga is a small club and certain developments are limited by our lease, but we extend a friendly welcome to other club members.

OTAGO SUN & HEALTH CLUB

By the time these notes are in print the season in Otago should be well under way. During the past winter, the frosts have caused the pool floor and walls to crack, but these have all been repaired and the whole new pool given about four new coats of cement wash to waterproof it. As the water for our swimming pool is drawn from a mountain stream, it is icy cold, so if we can stop the pool leaking, it shall give the water time to be warmed by the sun before it needs replenishing. The water is now chlorinated, so should last some time before changing and we hope this will also keep in check the growth of algae.

We have levelled off an area for table tennis and hope to acquire a table shortly. A toddlers paddling pool is being constructed as we have had an influx of small children into the club and their needs must of course, be catered for. An area has been cleared for a car park, but still requires some work yet.

We have had much less trouble from vandals this year, due to the fact that we have had someone at the club grounds on most weekends right throughout the year. New notices have also been posted around the entrance to the grounds, so we hope the provisions of the new Trespass Bill, will benefit our efforts to keep out vandals and trespassers. Our next project, which we hope to complete this season, is the construction of a trampoline, one which can be used by both adults and children.

 

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SYLVANIA

by John Hedley-Brown

Doug. Cousins

"WE THERE, QUITE BARE"
REFLECTED IN THE MORNING CALM

 

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THE TWELVE OLYMPIANS

by Dr Chas. Seitman

"The first Olympiad was held in 776 BC and by agreement, every four years thence. Competitors ran in a brief loincloth. In the 15th Olympiad, however, in 720 BC, an athlete Orsippos, discarded it and ran completely naked, and won the event, and from that moment the practice was followed universally. The convention of athletic nakedness lasted a thousand years.

When the great hero of the Odyssey was shipwrecked on the shore of Phaecia, he was eager to conceal his naked manhood, just as any other Greek would have done in the Homeric Age. Nevertheless, in order to understand how the Greeks could so quickly change in the manner of Custom and Conduct, all because one Olympic runner ran without his loincloth, one must realize that overdressing, skimping and nakedness are simply matters of fluid convention. Yet once the convention of athletic nakedness had been developed, the Greeks maintained it for close on 1,000 years, because it seemed to them to be consistent with their principles of liberty, moderation, and good breeding. It seems that a free- and aristocratic-minded people, of northern stock like the Greeks, happening to have acquired a convention of nakedness, is not easily turned from it.

Neither the Catholic Church, nor the English migrants into Ireland could overthrow the healthy habits of the ancient nobility of Ulster, where, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, the great O'cane himself, who spoke fluent Latin, as well as his native tongue, welcomed a Bohemian nobleman to the Hall of his great house, in which the O'cane and all his sixteen Ladies sat down naked, inviting the embarrassed and unwilling foreigner to undress and be comfortable."

 

From the diary of The Rev. Francis Kilvert (1840-1879)

"At Shanklin one has to adopt the detestable custom of bathing drawers. If ladies don't like to see men naked, why don't they keep away from the sight?"

"It was a delicious feeling of freedom in stripping in the open air and running down naked to the sea, where the waves were curling white with foam and the red morning sunshine glowing upon the naked limbs of the bathers."

On the 13th July, 1875, during a walk from Shanklin to Sundown, he recorded that, "One beautiful girl stood entirely naked on the sand ... a model for the sculptor ... and seemed a Venus fresh-risen from the wave."

 

CANDLES IN THE DARKNESS

E. St. John Catchpool (first Secretary of Britain's YHA)

(In Russia in 1917) "I also made friends among the Tolstoyan groups, those earnest seekers after truth, trying to put Tolstoy's idea into practice, and occasionally went for an excursion with them, mostly 'along the banks of the River Moskwa. On some of the warm autumn days you would often see the Tolstoyans of all ages and sex throw off their clothes and splash joyfully in !he cool water. Getting to know them better I once remarked that mixed bathing in the nude would not be allowed in Western Europe, to which some of them cheerfully replied: "It has always been our custom, and if anyone wore a bathing costume the rest of us would be sure that person had some awful disease which had to be hidden; as for any embarrassment, what could be more natural?"

 

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•   HOW TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK IN NINE EASY LESSONS

This is the era of do-it-yourself and here's how to make your own heart attack right in your own basement.

1. Be a man. Men have six times as many heart attacks as women. There is something in the hormones that make women women, that prevents them from hardening their arteries as rapidly as do men. We can give female hormones to a male and slow down the rate at which his arteries age. For a while, this gave some promise of control of the disease until we abruptly ran out of patients willing to take the hormones. The plain truth of the matter is that most men would rather drop dead from a heart attack than wear a brassiere.

2. It helps if you live in the city. City dwellers have more coronaries than country folk, and this is probably related to the matter of exercise.

3. Pick your ancestors. The more people you have in your family who have died suddenly the better your chances are.

4. Be as sedentary as possible. If you have a big lawn to mow, grow a small boy to mow it for you. If you can't accomplish this, buy yourself the kind of lawn mower you can sit on and ride around. If this is too expensive, get the kind of mower that will drag you around.

5. Drink 15 to 20 cups of coffee with cream a day. Have a lot of ice cream. Eat a lot of thick, juicy steaks well marbled with fat, and don't trim the fat from around the edge: you paid for it, eat it. Marry the kind of woman who is noted as a good cook because she puts butter and cream in her recipes. If you're going into a restaurant, always call the waiter over for an extra pat of butter. This sort of diet will not only elevate your blood cholesterol, but will make you fat, and that's helpful, too. Thin people have just as many heart attacks as fat people, but fat people are far more inclined to have the fatal kind.

6. It helps if you are wealthy. Rich people have more heart attacks than poor people, presumably because they can afford more of those juicy thick steaks and the luxury of paid help around the house.

7. It helps if you have diabetes, gall bladder trouble, or high pressure.

8. One of the good, positive things you can do is to smoke cigarettes. Two packets a day smokers have twice as many heart attacks as non-smokers.

9. Above all, after you have that first attack, don't follow your doctor's advice.

"Unfortunately," concluded Dr Bates, "following these rules may not work the first time. Four out of five people survive their first attack and return to their former occupation. But if it doesn't work the first time, keep on trying. The statistics improve a great deal with the second and third attacks."

- Reprinted from Today's Health as quoted in Health

 

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NEWS & VIEWS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

 

INTERNATIONAL NATURIST FEDERATION                

The latest INF Press Service Bulletins make repeated references to the frequent public relations work being done by INF officers throughout Europe: visiting other countries to address many organizations holding meetings to help form new centres, clubs and central associations, attend sports gatherings, open days, opening new seasons at resorts and so on. It must involve the INF in much expense and the officers in a lot of valuable time to carry out this invaluable work for the cause of the movement.

Despite this very Catholic country, naturism is making progress. The office has moved from Switzerland to Torino in Italy itself. The weekly paper of the Automobil Club d'Atalia, with a circulation of 800,000, has favourably reported a long letter provided by the central office.

Another strongly Catholic country is making progress towards officially approved naturism. A meeting has been held at Agde in France to help the Spanish naturist towards this goal.

Unfortunately the report in our last issue was not correct. Apparently the authorities have changed their minds about allowing naturism.

Switzerland now has 9850 adult members in 10 clubs with grounds. The central organization, the ONS, has built up a fund from entrance fees and donations not unlike our Perc. Cousins Trust Fund. This Swiss fund is to provide interest-free loans for obtaining sites. 44,500 Swiss francs have so far been lent, and 6689 francs are still available. The only strings attached to the loans are that liquor, smoking and meat eating are banned in these clubs.

France has 35,000 members in their 100 clubs with grounds, and these sites have a total acreage of 4250.

The FFN is a very live-wire organization. They have held various Press conferences, and have an annual prize for the best press write-up. A French Naturist Day, in which all clubs are invited to participate gives the opportunity for meetings with outside officials, Press, sports and other organizations, etc. Lectures with films and slides are provided, as well as Open Days at many clubs.

The FFN is participating in various exhibitions, conferences, debates, and so on.

But one thing surprises us in New Zealand. Despite the advances of naturism, the familiar Follies and so on in Paris, places such as Montalivet and Ile du Levant, we have noticed that all French naturist magazines we receive have the photos retouched. We wonder who really is more advanced, France or New Zealand!

The INF is working on plans to provide programmes, worked in with outside organizations, for this year, the highlight of which will be the World Congress at North Kent Sun Club in August.

We have received advice that another attempt is being made to set up a national body in Australia. This was formed by decision of 7 clubs attending the last Christmas Rally. They have a secretary and president and expect their first convention at Christmas time. We look forward to more news of their enterprise in later issues. •

 

 

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At the moment, in various places, discussions and meetings are being held on the provision of facilities for relaxation and leisure. We are told that we must prepare ourselves to utilise our increasing (?) leisure time more fully, and certainly at the moment, most of us waste much of our free time, and gain little from it. Thus we are concerned with the possibilities of intimate theatres and other cultural amenities, of improved public playing areas, and, on campus, the provision of a gymnasium or other sport facilities. This is all good. We are beginning to realize the need for, and advantage of a varied, active, and stimulating involvement with other people. It is within this context that I can discuss another involvement which more people (especially in NZ) could readily come to appreciate and benefit from. I make no apologies for boldly stating I am here concerned with nudity, a subject that is slowly becoming less taboo.

Let me make it clear that I am not concerned with banning clothes, promoting nude parties in the Square, recommending birthday suits for everyday wear, or similar unreasonable ideas. But I am suggesting that individuals, and the public as a whole, have much to gain from a more reasonable attitude to nudity, and the practice of social nudity. Social nudity is not new to New Zealand and has been widely practised over the world for many years (since Adam and Eve?) either privately or in organized groups. It is not a secret society, indulging in weird ritual, but ordinary everyday people practising what they were born to do; to be in each others company unclothed as they so desired.

I believe there is ample evidence to show nudism is a beneficial healthful way of life: physically and mentally. While the former is indisputably true, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the latter is too. A bit of a run in the fresh air is the finest thing for blowing the cobwebs away, and until you have done it nude, you wouldn't know it could be so good. Any such exercise is physically invigorating, and is also mentally refreshing. In the longer term it also alters one's outlook and understanding of other people. Too often we are repressed, suppressed and restricted; no wonder some of us go nuts. Sex is very often involved in such instances. Most of us think of sex as a nasty and very private thing to be shut quietly in a bedroom, and otherwise left undiscussed. The accepted and legal need to cover oneself up leads to an excessive and unhealthy interest in the hidden parts of the body. Take away the clothes so that everything is revealed, and sex is no longer involved. This is fact. It's that last vital piece of clothing that tends to emphasise the sexual organs. Naturism removes the cause of any unnatural sexual interest, with no unwanted side effects.

The advantages of naturism are borne out by the popularity and success of the institutions we associate with Sylt, Montalivet, Ile du Levant and the rest. There are also now a few places where people live together, in complete freedom as to the presence or absence of clothing. The members claim this attitude leads to a more satisfying way of life, and there is a continuous demand for membership. Sure they all want to join for what they can get out of it, but it is for something rather more noble than the nasty types around might fondly imagine.

Social nudity does not mean promiscuity, license or depravity, rather it leads to a more healthy attitude to sex and the human body. It is fortunate that other aspects of our life are not orientated in this direction. It is imperative that countries other than those of Scandinavia come to accept that the body and sex both exist. Let us openly admit it, and be proud of it. There is no shame in seeing a naked body and appreciating it. Such a common acceptance is the most powerful counter to lewdness, and pornography.

New Zealand could be another example to the world in the handling of such matters, following the footsteps of places like Sweden and Denmark. An uninformed public, and a bigoted administration proclaim the need for laws to protect people from reading or seeing material that it thinks may corrupt or deprave the poor innocent public. There is no evidence to show that any form of literature does in fact have any such detrimental effect on sexual behaviour. It is also a fact that this applies to both adults and children who have access to such material. I suggest that practising nudists as a group will even more quickly adjust to the ready availability of so-called pornographic literature. But even others have only to read the 4-letter words a dozen times, and see photographs of sexual parts an equal number of times to lose any undesirable or abnormal interest in such things. So I say, open the flood gates and let all types of literature in. Very soon even the worst of us will be satiated, with no further perverse interest in the stuff. Then society can devote its time and energies to more important and rewarding tasks. I am convinced the public is a more realistic and potent censor than any statute.

And so today many people believe that in a modern nudist club, (worse still in a nudist club where some members may have read pornographic books) with both sexes in close proximity, sexual involvement must and will occur. This is a fallacy, but I know some cannot accept such a statement. The answer is go see for yourself. •

 

 

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Readershave their say ... 

 

I AM A NUDIST

It's a subject that's been thrashed to death, this business of whether one is a nudist or a naturist, so I probably won't be thanked for raising it again. However, it's something I feel very strongly about so I'm going to stick my neck out.

As I see it, a naturist is one who eats wheat germ and yoghurt (ugh), possibly studies yoga, lives a good clean healthy life, and spends as much time as possible in the nude.

Take me. I'm overweight, eat unhealthy foods, get drunk occasionally and smoke 30 or 40 cigarettes a day, which leave me wheezing, coughing and likely to end up in an early grave from either heart disease or cancer. For goodness sake, nobody in his wildest dreams would call me a NATURIST. I'm a nudist, impure and simple. I too, spend as much time as possible at the club and am probably no better or worse a club member than the person I define as a naturist.

Don't get me wrong; I admire and envy the genuine naturist - fit, strong, healthy - and feel guilty as hell whenever I sneak a smoke out at the grounds.

But there's a third kind of person whom I do not respect. He's the nudist (my definition) who insists on calling himself a naturist because it sounds nicer.

This isn't the Stone Age (don't let NASA fool you), it's the Age of the Euphemism. Spades have become digging implements, sewage ponds are now waste water treatment plants and now nudists are becoming naturists.

It can be, and frequently is, argued that the word "nudist" has come to have unpleasant connotations. That's no excuse for labelling ourselves as something many of us are not. What we must do is restore the word's respectability; anything else is dishonest.

Possibly I have over-simplified things, but on the evidence it's hard to see how any dispute could arise over two words with such different meanings. Be honest! What are you, naturist or nudist? - KEVIN

 

WHY IS YOUTH SO APATHETIC TOWARDS

THE NATURIST MOVEMENT?

This is a question that not many of the older club members have considered beyond the initial realization that there is a lack of youth in our clubs. Although members have come to accept this, they have done nothing about it.

As a lifelong member of a naturist club, and now a teenager, I think I am quite qualified to give my reasons for my loss of interest in the movement. A few years ago, I was quite happy to go out to the club because there were plenty of things for me to do and plenty of people my age to play with. Gradually, however, as some members left, I was almost the only regular attender from my old age group of friends. As the club was no longer a centre of interest for me, it followed that I became less enthusiastic and required some persuasion to actually attend. I understand why young people are put off: not only are they initially embarrassed, but also there are no other young people to make them feel at home.

Most teenagers outside clubs see anything relating to our bodies as being rude. This is the result of their environment and the attitude of most parents to sex. To talk of a nudist club among teenagers is to receive a barrage of smutty comments. Some teenagers even think that nudist clubs are synonymous with wife swapping and fornication.

For several years, a type of person has been introduced to the movement who is not sincerely interested in nudism. They merely use the premises as a motor camp where they can stay during the summer holidays at an extremely low cost. Apart from during the holidays, they are seldom seen. Surely this is the wrong atmosphere to introduce young people to the movement. The club should be a place where people can get together on the basis of genuine friendship which engenders group feeling about nudism. The clubs would then be ready to receive new members who are also genuinely interested in the club. By advertising, the clubs should try to attract younger couples with new ideas and campaign for high school and university students.

Once young people have become members of a club, some people have the idea that there is nothing else to be done. To keep the young people interested, there must always be plenty to do and different places to go. These young people need not be teenagers, as long as they are young in their outlook and want to bring nudism up to date. Up until now most of the members have been "oldies" bringing very old-fashioned ideas into the clubs. Publicity (of the right sort) is badly needed to prove that the naturist movement is indeed a modern organization, and yet not a place for peeping toms or stodgy old-fashioned people who are not really nudists at all. - SUE

 

THANK YOU FROM A TEENAGER

As a teenager, I would like to thank the NZ Naturist for the frank assistance it has given me. A wonderful healthy respect towards sex and natural living is something I hope I will always treasure.

It is a pity that interested young people (outside of clubs) have no available help to promote growth. This is perhaps where your magazine can really assist. - MALCOLM, Auckland

 

NUDISM IS NOT A RELIGION

No ideoligiei. I think everybody can be a naturist: female, male, married, single, old or young. When a person is respectable it should be self evident no religion, ideologie, or cult.

To simple as me pull off a pullover when we get too warm or dress up for going to the theatre or undress for a bath, as simple we should do it on the seaside in the fresh air, ny gymnastics in school in our spare time.

Finally when you cover grass in two days it will be white instead of green, the same idea with our body. Or as a Christian person the first minimum step to recognize God is to recognize his wonderful work, the human body. That's why I, and my children will grow up as naturist. - HANSPETER MULLER, AOHC

 

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PEEPING THROUGH THE TREES? OH NO! NATURIST CHILDREN, BY THEIR UPBRINING, HAVE NO DESIRE TO COMMIT SUCH AN OFFENCE

SCHOOLS

FOR SCANDAL?

by Penworthy

An unfortunate, deleterious atmosphere exists in our secondary schools where the young entrant has to conform to a curious, moral discipline. This coincides with public ideas of discipline. Principals, teachers, committee and board members, welfare officers and parents, are aware in varying degree of the physiological and mental strains forced on our children at this adolescent level. Sexual adjustments are made but at the cost of a healthy outlook on sexuality and its ramifications.

Consider our raw third former, entering or just having entered puberty. He or she will not have been allowed to glean the truth, openly, about sexual anatomy. So, they learn it now, willy-nilly and inevitably. The sketches and labels on school desks or walls of lavatory blocks; the conclave of dirty joke pedlars near the caretaker's storeroom; the gap in the timbers of the changing shed; the grubby edged pages of the Britannica classical art section; all these are the textbooks for guidance on human behaviour and (mis)behaviour.

No wonder then, that perversions and mental disturbances are far higher than they should be in our youngsters: their curiosity has not been satisfied healthily. If conditions do not allow the curious to find his mental treasures, then the trigger is set for difficulty and danger, possibly to others and himself in later years. What incubated our lesbians, masochists, rapists and other deviates of society? Our school education could be to blame for lending a situation just fit to raise such ugliness.

Authorities, and in particular parents, are backward to a nauseating degree in providing an environment in which "natural" education is possible. For instance, why can't we insist on our primary classes doing their physical education, swimming, dancing and outdoor lessons in the nude? For these age groups there is no problem and they would expect and accept their teachers' nudity also. The next step would not have to be enforced: the children would progress into the standards, and finally, into secondary school life happily and without the mental and moral rot typical of the present set-up.

1969 will be unchanged. The seeking mind will not be satisfied, emotions will he stirred, upsetting the youth's mental stamina and his real potential as a student. The weekend date or other female figure (possibly a busty, lewdly posed figure from a girlie magazine) will become an obsession, a nagging thing in his daily speculations. School playgrounds, corridors, and more obscured areas become the nurseries for unsound, maladjusted, and sensually orientated citizens of tomorrow.

Yes, we want a revolution, peaceful and purposeful, to urge the smut from our neglected corners. Guts and foresight are needed from the higher authorities as well as parents, otherwise we make a mockery of the word "education". But this is the fact that really hurts, viz., we allow a system to inflict prudery, dishonesty and mental or moral shackles on our young folk. This in turn boosts the next generation's criminal ranks. Thank God for our naturist advantages. •

 

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CLUB DIRECTORY The secretaries of the clubs listed below will be pleased to hear from genuine enquirers. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. NORTHERN SUN SEEKERS P.O. Box 4126, Kamo. AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB INC. P.O. Box 2702, Auckland. AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC. P.O. Box 2925, Auckland. Phone 604-235 KOWHAI VALLEY CLUB INC. P.O. Box 6238, Wellesley St. W, Auckland 1. WAIKATO OUTDOOR SOCIETY INC. P.O. Box 619, Hamilton TAURANGA SUN CLUB P.O. Box 2205, South Tauranga. ROTORUA SUN CLUB P.O. Box 1007, Rotorua. GISBORNE SUN CLUB P.O. Box 126, Gisborne HAWKE'S BAY SUN CLUB INC. P.O. Box 551, Napier Phone 37-692 WANGANUI SUN CLUB P.O. Box 410, Wanganui. Phones, pvte 38-421, 33-123 WELLINGTON SUN CLUB INC. P.O. Box 2854, Wellington. Phone TIB 8300 NELSON SUN CLUB INC. P.O. Box 467, Nelson CANTERBURY SUN & HEALTH CLUB INC. P.O. Box 1823, Christchurch. OTAGO SUN & HEALTH CLUB P.O. Box 2058, South Dunedin. SOUTHERN SUN & HEALTH CLUB INC. P.O. Box 486, Invercargill. Phone 541K Winton If you are not close to any of the above clubs, you may like to know that other naturists are ready to form clubs in the following areas: New Plymouth Blenheim Palmerston North Westport Masterton Timaru To contact them, write to:         N.Z. Sunbathing Association Inc.         P.O. Box 6359, Wellington

SOLAR incorporating SUN REVIEW        AUSTRALIA'S NATURIST MAGAZINE Profusely illustrated From your newsagent or direct from the publishers 40c per copy GOLDRAY PUBLICATIONS Box 2, P.O., Austral, N.S.W. Australia     Read and enjoy                         Health & Efficiency The   world's   greatest sunbathing  magazine  SCORES OF PLATES in every issue PLUS the official news and pictures of  all  British  Naturist  Clubs Full Colour Cover 16 issues yearly including 4 special DOUBLE SIZE extra numbers Send NOW for specimen copy, 3/- post paid or 50/- post paid for 12 months HEALTH & EFFICIENCY PLANT NEWS LTD 38 North Audley Street London, W.1, England

 

Printed by Martin Printing Co. Ltd, Napier, N.Z.

 

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Noted:- 

History: Nelson Sun Club Inc.

Perc Cousins: Antidote for Stress

J. H. Worth: The Artist and the Nude

Penworthy: Schools for Scandal

Reader's Letters: Why is Youth so Apathetic Towards the Naturist Movement?

18th Rally Auckland - 1970

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ENJOYING LIFE AS NATURE INTENDED

A QUIET CORNER, A GOOD BOOK, WARM SUN - THE RECIPIE FOR A QUIET HOUR
AT THE SUN CLUB

Graham Bailey 

 

DOUG TAKES A GOOD LOOK AT MT COOK

Doug. Cousins 

THE STATUE 

Paul 

 

LOOK MUM

Doug. Cousins 

"HURRY UP WITH THOSE REPAIRS,
WE WANT A SWIM"

 

PICTORIAL RECORD OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM
THE AUCKLAND SUN CLUB'S
GOLD PROSPECTING EXPEDITION
TO THAMES IN THE COROMANDEL RANGES

PREPARING FOR THE BAREBECUE

ANYONE SEEN MY HORSE?

THE NUDE WAY OF AN OLD METHOD

HOW MUCH FOR THIS ONE?

A HAPPY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Doug. Cousins 

RALLY PHOTO FROM PINEGLADES

NUDISM IS NOT CONFINED TO YOUNGSTERS
AS THIS HAPPY WOMAN SHOWS 

Gordon Davis 

NEW ZEALAND CORNER AT THE LAST
INF WORLD CONGRESS

Doug. Cousins 

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A CLUB

AMONGST NATURE'S BEAUTY

• BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND

Photo: Doug Cousins

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